Sir Peter Arthur Brian Jackson (born 9 December 1955), styled The Hon. Mr Justice Peter Jackson, is an English High Court judge

High Court judge

A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...

, assigned to the Family Division. He was called to the Bar

Call to the bar

The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...

 by the Inner Temple

Inner Temple

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...

 in 1978 and became a Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

 in 2000. He was subsequently appointed as a Recorder

Recorder (judge)

A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...

 in 1998, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2003 and a High Court Judge with effect from 1 October 2010. Chambers & Partners described Jackson as a "master tactician [who] stalks his prey in a very subtle, understated manner... He plays to win and does so more often than not," while Legal 500 called him "one of the most authoritative children silks

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

 around."

Court of Protection

In February 2011 Jackson made a landmark ruling allowing journalists to attend hearings in Britain's most secretive court, the Court of Protection

Court of Protection

The Court of Protection in English law is a superior court of record created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It has jurisdiction over the property, financial affairs and personal welfare of people who lack mental capacity to make decisions for themselves...

 in a case about an autistic

Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...

 man who had been kept away from his home and family by a local authority, the London Borough of Hillingdon

London Borough of Hillingdon

The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...

. Jackson also agreed to allow the news media to identify all parties in the case. Previously, the court had been widely criticised in the media for being able to make crucial rulings without public scrutiny.